Find out how popular the last name Sanka is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sanka.

Sanka, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Sanka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sanka in America

Sanka is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sanka surname appeared 128 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Sanka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sanka to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Sanka

The surname Sanka originates from India, specifically the regions of Bengal and Assam, where it first emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "shanka," which means "conch shell" or "trumpet." This name likely originated from a caste or occupation related to conch shell trading or crafting.

In ancient Indian texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, references to the conch shell can be found, suggesting its cultural significance. However, there are no known direct historical records or manuscripts specifically mentioning the Sanka surname from that era.

The earliest recorded instances of the Sanka surname date back to the 16th century in Bengal and Assam. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Ramnath Sanka (1820-1892), a prominent Bengali poet and writer known for his contributions to Bengali literature.
2. Keshab Chandra Sanka (1838-1884), a prominent social reformer and a key figure in the Bengali Renaissance movement.
3. Manmatha Nath Sanka (1879-1956), an Indian mathematician and educator who made significant contributions to the field of geometry.
4. Prabir Sanka (1928-2008), a renowned Indian sculptor and artist known for his bronze and stone sculptures.
5. Subhash Sanka (born 1947), an Indian classical vocalist and exponent of the Kirana gharana style of Hindustani classical music.

The name Sanka has also been associated with various place names in India, particularly in the states of West Bengal and Assam. For example, Sankabari, a village in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, and Sankardeva, a town in Assam named after the renowned Vaishnavite scholar and reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.

While the surname Sanka has its roots in India, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical origins and significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sanka

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sanka.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sanka was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sanka has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Sanka was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sanka, please contact us.

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